Bullet train which permits passenger loading and unloading without stopping

ABSTRACT

A passenger carrying monorail bullet train which travels in a loop at between about one hundred and one hundred fifty miles per hour across country between major metropolitan cities, and which does not stop to board and egress passengers. The bullet train is suspended above ground by a monorail supported by towers therealong. Passengers are shuttled from a station in a passenger shuttle module carried by an engine powered passenger shuttle vehicle along standard railroad tracks which merge with the monorail at a passenger transfer zone. The railroad tracks are elevated in the transfer zone to raise the passenger shuttle vehicle and passenger transport module towards a special passenger transfer module into which the passenger transport module is secured, while passengers leaving the bullet train are housed in a separate passenger transport module in the passenger transfer module which lowers with the passenger transport vehicle on the back side of the ramp for transport back to the station.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority of my copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/246,148 filed Nov. 3, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field

[0003] The present invention relates to passenger trains and monorail trains, and more particularly to high speed bullet trains and monorail trains.

[0004] 2. State of the Art

[0005] Passenger and freight trains which ride on pairs of rails have been around for more than one hundred years. Such trains proved invaluable from the mid 1800's until the mid 1900's for moving people and cargo from one end of the country to the other in a timely, cost effective manner. However, more recently the use of airplane travel and cargo transport has caused train travel and cargo transport to markedly drop in the United States, causing investment in maintaining the infrastructure of tracks and relatd facilities to dwindle. Conversely, Europe has invested heavily in upgrading their trains and related infrastructure with European individuals and companies highly utilizing their trains for both travel and cargo transport. Likewise, Japan has developed high speed passenger trains, or bullet trains as they have been nicknamed due to their sleek, wind cutting design resembling a bullet.

[0006] Monorail trains were developed a number of years ago as the answer to travel within and around major cities. The beauty of monorail trains is that they ride on or suspended from a single concrete rail suspended on concrete pillars high above the car, bus, and truck traffic so as not to interfere therewith and vice-versa. Monorails have gained only limited appeal and are running n only a limited number of cities worldwide. This may be due to the lack of effective integration between such short haul monorail trains and the longer haul passenger trains. For example, the stations for the monorail trains may not coincide with the stations for the passenger trains. Consequently, the passengers must transfer therebetween by bus, taxicab, or by walking. This is not conducive to people using either system due to the added time and expense involved in the transfer between the two. Likewise, the scheduled arrivals and departures of the monorail tras and the passenger trains may not correspond, further necessitating further time wasted.

[0007] There is a need for a coordinated system for rail travel for short hauls and long hauls which is time efficient, convenient, cost effective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is a high speed monorail train and an express/commuter train system, the monorail train which rides on a monorail supported above the ground by means of a plurality of support columns. The monorail train includes passenger transfer by conventional parallel ground-mounted rails wherein the monorail train permits passenger loading and unloading without stopping. The monorail train comprises a powered engine module rollably mounted to the monorail, a passenger module rollably mounted to the monorail and operatively connected to be pulled by the engine module, and a passenger transfer module rollably mounted to the monorail and operatively connected to be pulled by the engine module. The passenger transfer module includes a transfer module support device having a receiving position and a holding position. The monorail train further comprises a powered passenger shuttle vehicle which rollably moves on the ground-mounted rails, and a passenger transport module for carrying passengers which is carried by the passenger shuttle. The passenger module can be driven into a position below the passenger transfer module while moving at speed and lifted by a ramp supporting the ground-mounted rails such that the transfer module support device receives the passenger transport module and switches to the holding position to support said passenger transport module as the powered passenger shuttle vehicle lowers by rolling from the ramp.

THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the front three modules of a first embodiment non-stop bullet train of the invention, comprising a cross-country express bullet train, shown as suspended from a monorail supported by respective towers;

[0011]FIG. 2, a fragmentary side elevational view of the rear three modules of such first embodiment non-stop bullet train;

[0012]FIG. 3, a front elevational view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the round cross-section of the bullet train;

[0013]FIG. 4, a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the multiple floor levels inside of the engine module of the bullet train;

[0014]FIG. 5, a lateral horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 showing the layout of the main floor level of the engine module;

[0015]FIG. 6, a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing the multiple floor levels inside of the passenger module of the bullet train;

[0016]FIG. 7, a lateral horizontal sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6 showing the layout of the main floor level of the passenger module;

[0017]FIG. 8, a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing the multiple floor levels inside of the sleeper module of the bullet train;

[0018]FIG. 9, a lateral horizontal sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8 showing the layout of the main floor level of the sleeper module;

[0019]FIG. 10, a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing the multiple floor levels inside of the dining module of the bullet train;

[0020]FIG. 11, a lateral horizontal sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10 showing the layout of the main floor level of the dining module;

[0021]FIG. 12, a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing the multiple floor levels inside of the baggage module of the bullet train;

[0022]FIG. 13, a lateral horizontal sectional view taken on the line 13- 13 of FIG. 12 showing the layout of the main floor level of the baggage module;

[0023]FIG. 14, a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing the details of the passenger transfer module containing a passenger shuttle module, with respective pairs of arcuate front and rear lower doors of the passenger transfer module shown open;

[0024]FIG. 15, a lateral horizontal sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of FIG. 14 showing the layout of the passenger transfer module and the passenger shuttle module;

[0025]FIG. 16, a side elevational view of a passenger transport vehicle used to transport passengers to and from the bullet train, carrying a passenger transport module;

[0026]FIG. 17, a top plan view taken on the line 17-17 of FIG. 16 showing the passenger shuttle vehicle with the passenger transport module;

[0027]FIG. 18, a front elevational view taken on the line 18-18 of FIG. 16 showing the passenger shuttle vehicle with the passenger transport module;

[0028]FIG. 19, a rear elevational view taken on the line 19-19 of FIG. 16 showing the driver cab of the passenger transport vehicle;

[0029]FIG. 20, a fragmentary schematic diagram looking down on a typical monorail and transfer track with the passenger transfer zone layout at a transfer station and maintenance station;

[0030]FIG. 21, a fragmentary side elevational view of the passenger shuttle vehicle carrying the passenger transport module approaching the passenger transfer module of the bullet train at the passenger transfer zone;

[0031]FIG. 22, fragmentary side elevational view to an enlarged scale showing the initial stage of the laser guided docking maneuver of the passenger shuttle vehicle carrying a passenger transport vehicle to the passenger transfer module of the bullet train at the passenger transfer zone;

[0032]FIG. 23, fragmentary side elevational view corresponding to FIG. 22 showing the final stage of the laser guided docking maneuver;

[0033]FIG. 24, a fragmentary side elevational view of the passenger shuttle vehicle carrying the passenger transport module as docked to the passenger transfer module of the bullet train with a frontmost passenger transport module carried therewithin, the frontmost and rearmost passenger transport modules being in a first stage of module exchange;

[0034]FIG. 25, a lateral vertical sectional view taken on the line 25-25 of FIG. 24 showing the rear doors and rails of the passenger transfer module in the open position so as to accept the rearmost passenger transport module therebetween, the passenger shuttle vehicle being on the initial lower ramp;

[0035]FIG. 26, a lateral vertical sectional view taken on the line 26-26 of FIG. 24 showing the front doors of the passenger transfer module in the open position and the front rails in the closed position so as to support the frontmost passenger transport module, the passenger shuttle vehicle being on the initial lower ramp;

[0036]FIG. 27, a fragmentary side elevational view to an enlarged scale showing the laser guided raising of the passenger shuttle vehicle carrying the rearmost passenger transport module relative to the passenger transfer module, the passenger shuttle vehicle being on the central upper ramp with the open doors of the passenger transfer module being straddled thereabout;

[0037]FIG. 28, a fragmentary side elevational view corresponding to FIG. 24, wherein the frontmost and the rearmost passenger transport modules are in a second stage of module exchange;

[0038]FIG. 29, a lateral vertical sectional view taken on the line 29-29 of FIG. 28 corresponding to FIG. 25, showing the rearmost passenger transport module in a raised position due to the passenger shuttle vehicle being on the central upper ramp;

[0039]FIG. 30, a lateral vertical sectional view taken on the line 30-30 of FIG. 28 corresponding to FIG. 26, showing the frontmost passenger transport module in a raised position off the front rails due to the passenger shuttle vehicle being on the central upper ramp;

[0040]FIG. 31, a lateral vertical sectional view taken on the line 31-31 of FIG. 28 corresponding to FIG. 29, but wherein the rear rails of the passenger transfer module are in a closed position in preparation for supporting the rearmost passenger transport module;

[0041]FIG. 32, a lateral vertical sectional view taken on the line 32-32 of FIG. 28 corresponding to FIG. 29, but wherein the front rails of the passenger transfer module are in an open position in preparation for lowering of the frontmost passenger transport module therebetween;

[0042]FIG. 33, a fragmentary side elevational view corresponding to FIG. 24, wherein the frontmost and the rearmost passenger transport modules are in a third stage of module exchange;

[0043]FIG. 34, a lateral vertical sectional view taken on the line 34-34 of FIG. 33 corresponding to FIG. 31, but wherein the frontmost passenger transport module is in a lower position due to the passenger shuttle vehicle being on the final lower ramp;

[0044]FIG. 35, a lateral vertical sectional view taken on the line 35-35 of FIG. 33 corresponding to FIG. 32, but wherein the frontmost passenger transport module is in a lower position due to the passenger shuttle vehicle being on the final lower ramp;

[0045]FIG. 36, a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the three modules of a second embodiment non-stop bullet train of the invention, comprising a commuter express bullet train, shown as suspended from a monorail supported by respective towers;

[0046]FIG. 37, a lateral horizontal sectional view taken on the line 37-37 of FIG. 36 showing the layout of the main floor level of the engine and passenger module, and the passenger transfer modules; and

[0047]FIG. 38, a lateral vertical sectional view taken on the line 38-38 of FIG. 36 showing the passenger transport module within one of the passenger transfer modules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, therein is shown a first embodiment bullet train of the invention, cross-country express bullet train 42, which rides on a monorail 45 supported above the ground 48 along with a maintenance access pathway 51 by means of a plurality of T-shaped columns 54. The bullet train 42 comprises an engine module 57, a passenger module 60, a sleeper module 63, a dining module 66, a baggage module 69, a passenger transfer module 72, a passenger transport module 75, and a passenger shuttle vehicle 78 (FIGS. 16-19). Each of engine module 57, passenger module 60, sleeper module 63, dining module 66, baggage module 69, and passenger transfer module 72 hang from monorail 45 by means of respective pairs of wheels 81 connected to respective frames 84 attached respectively thereto, with respective flexible bellows 87 covering walkways (not shown) therebetween.

[0049] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, therein is shown the details of the engine module 57, which includes a main floor area 90, an upper storage area 93, and a lower storage area 96. Main floor area 90 includes a cockpit room 99, a first engine room 102, a dining room 105, a second engine room 108, and a lounge room 111.

[0050] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, therein is shown the details of the passenger module 60, which includes a main floor area 114, an upper storage area 117, and a lower storage area 120. Main floor area 114 includes a front passenger area 123, a lavatory 126, and a rear passenger area 129.

[0051] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, therein is shown the details of the sleeper module 63, which includes a main floor area 132, an upper storage area 135, and a lower storage area 138. Main floor area 132 includes a plurality of individual sleeping rooms 141.

[0052] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, therein is shown the details of the dining module 66, which includes a main floor area 144, an upper storage area 147, and a lower storage area 150. Main floor area 144 includes a dining area 153 and a kitchen 156.

[0053] Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, therein is shown the details of the baggage module 69, which includes a main floor area 159, an upper storage area 162, and a lower storage area 165. Main floor area 159 includes a central baggage storage area 168 enclosable by a plurality of vertically movable doors 169, and a pair of elongate powered baggage conveyors 171 and 174 for transporting baggage and as a walkway.

[0054] Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, therein is shown the details of the passenger transfer module 72 containing a passenger shuttle module 75. Passenger transfer module 72 includes respective front and rear vehicle storage areas 177 and 180, with respective pairs of front and rear rails 183 and 186 which are laterally inwardly and outwardly movable by means of respective pluralities of hydraulic cylinders (not shown), respective pairs of vertically slidable passenger doors 187, and respective pairs of arcuate front and rear lower doors 189 and 192. Passenger transport module 75 includes a baggage storage area 193, and a passenger seating area 194, and rolls on and is supported by the respective pairs of front and rear rails 183 and 186 by means of a plurality of pairs of respective double wheels 195 thereof when in an inwardly disposed position but allow passenger shuttle vehicle 75 to pass therebetween when in an outwardly disposed position.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 16-19, therein is shown the details of the passenger shuttle vehicle 78 carrying a passenger transport module 75 as used to transport passengers to and from the bullet train 42. Passenger shuttle vehicle 78 comprises an elongate flat bed frame 196 and a driver cab 198. A plurality of wheels 201 mounted to frame 196 roll on a pair of respective rails 204 of standard configuration and lateral spacing as for conventional railroads. Frame 196 and a pair of rails 207 mounted thereto are of sufficient length so as to support a pair of passenger transport modules 75 thereon. Driver cab 198 includes controls (not shown) to drive passenger shuttle vehicle 78, which is powered by an electric or internal combustion engine (not shown) in frame 196. A periscope 210 allows the driver (not shown) to see over the passenger transport modules 75 thereon.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 20, bullet train 42 operates on a track system 213, and is supported by a passenger shuttle vehicle station 216, and a maintenance facility 219. Track system 213 includes an express monorail circuit 222 which connects major cities comprising monorail 45 supported above the ground 48 along with the maintenance access pathway (not shown) by means of a plurality of the T-shaped columns (not shown), a monorail maintenance loop 225 of the same construction, and a passenger shuttle vehicle loop 228 comprising a pair of respective rails 204 as for conventional railroads. A concrete ramp 231 supporting rails 204 includes an initial lower ramp 234, a central upper ramp 237, and a final lower ramp 240, being disposed along an overlapping portion of express monorail circuit 222 and passenger shuttle vehicle loop 228 comprising a passenger transport module transfer zone 243.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 20, the passenger transport module 75 carried by the passenger transport vehicle 78 is initially filled with departing passengers at the passenger shuttle vehicle station 216, point “A”. The passenger transport vehicle 78 then accelerates along passenger shuttle vehicle loop 228, point “B”, towards ramp 231. Simultaneously, cross-country express bullet train 42 is speeding at a reduced speed of about sixty miles per hour from the cruising speed of one hundred miles per hour plus along express monorail circuit 222, point “M”, also towards ramp 231. As best shown in FIG. 21, the passenger transport vehicle 78 pulls in behind the passenger transfer module 72 of bullet train 42, front and rear lower doors 189 and 192 being in an open position, approaching initial lower ramp 234 of ramp 231.

[0058] The docking process is shown in FIGS. 22-24, wherein while on initial lower ramp 234, driver cab 198 of passenger shuttle vehicle 78 is pulled up from behind passenger transfer module 72 of bullet train 42, with respective interlocking laser guided mechanical locking devices 246 and 248 of passenger transfer module 72 and passenger shuttle vehicle 78 locking therebetween. In such a docked position, the passenger shuttle vehicle 78 carrying the rearmost passenger transport module 75 being docked to the passenger transfer module 72 of the bullet train 42 with another passenger transport module 75 carried therewithin. The frontmost passenger transport module 75 contains those passengers wishing to disembark bullet train 42 at main station 216, and their luggage. The respective passenger transport modules 75 are in a first stage of module exchange wherein the frontmost thereof is in an elevated position supported by the front rails 183 which are in the closed position, and the rearmost thereof is in a lowered position with the rear 186 which are in the open position.

[0059] The second stage of module exchange is shown in FIGS. 28-32 with the respective passenger transport modules 75 in a raised position due to the passenger shuttle vehicle 78 being on the central upper ramp 237 carrying both of passenger transport modules 75. While front and rear rails 183 and 186 are initially in the respective positions of the first stage described above, as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the front rails 183 change to the open position and the rear rails 186 change to the closed position, as shown in FIGS. 31 and 32.

[0060] The third stage of module exchange is shown in FIGS. 33-35 with the frontmost of passenger transport modules 75 being in a lowered position supported by passenger transport vehicle 78, having passed between front rails 183 which are in the open position, and the rearmost thereof being in an elevated position supported by rear rails 186, which are in the closed position.

[0061] The docking process is concluded wherein while on final lower ramp 240, driver cab 198 of passenger shuttle vehicle 78 is released from behind passenger transfer module 72 of bullet train 42 by means of the respective interlocking laser guided mechanical locking devices 246 and 248 of passenger transfer module 72 and passenger shuttle vehicle 78 unlocking. In such an undocked position, the passenger shuttle vehicle 78 now carrying the frontmost passenger transport module 75 undocks from the passenger transfer module 72 of the bullet train 42 and falls therebehind.

[0062] Again referring to FIG. 20, with the frontmost passenger transport module 75 carried by the passenger transport vehicle 78 filled with returning passengers, point “E”, the passenger transport vehicle 78 decelerates along passenger shuttle vehicle loop 228, point “F”, towards main station 216. Simultaneously, cross-country express bullet train 42 is speeding up to a cruising speed of one hundred miles per hour plus along express monorail circuit 222, point “N”. As bullet train 42 speeds away, front and rear lower doors 189 and 192 close, the front rails 183 close, and the rearmost passenger transport module 75 moves forward on front and rear rails 183 and 186 to become the frontmost passenger transport module 75 for passenger disembarking into baggage module 69 and into the appropriate module of bullet train 42. The former frontmost passenger transport module 75 carried by the passenger transport vehicle 78 filled with returning passengers, point “E”, decelerates along passenger shuttle vehicle loop 228, point “F”, towards main station 216. Upon stopping at main station 216, point “A”, the passengers disembark with their baggage and a new group of embarking passengers enter passenger transport module 75 to join up with another bullet train 42 travelling along express monorail circuit 222, point “M”.

[0063] Each bullet train 42 is powered by a plurality of hydraulic motors 249 which drive wheels 81 on the engine module 57, and can also do so on each of the other modules if so desired (FIG. 3). Motors 249 are supplied with pressurized hydraulic fluid by means of respective first and second hydraulic pumps 252 and 255 driven by respective diesel engines 258 and 261 in the respective first and second engine rooms 202 and 208. Respective electric generators 264 and 267 also driven by diesel engines 258 and 261 supply electricity throughout bullet train 42. Diesel fuel, drinking water, non-potable water for toilets and washing, food, and beverages are shuttled to bullet train 42 in the passenger transport modules 75 along with the passengers and baggage. Waste water, sewage, and trash are shuttled from bullet train 42 also in the passenger shuttle modules. Therefore, bullet train 42 can continuously travel non-stop along express monorail circuit 222, which is in a continuous loop configuration connecting multiple major cities coast to coast for weeks or months until scheduled maintenance is needed or until a mechanical failure occurs. When maintenance is needed, bullet train 42 slows and travels onto monorail maintenance loop 225 of track system 213, point “S”, and pulls inside the maintenance facility 219 for maintenance. Upon completion of the maintenance, bullet train 42 exits the maintenance facility 219 along monorail maintenance loop 225 and rejoins express monorail circuit 222, point “U”.

[0064] The invention also includes a commuter bullet train 270 which is a shorter version of cross-country express bullet train 42, and is shown in FIGS. 36-38. Bullet train 270 rides on a monorail 45 supported above the ground 48 along with a maintenance access pathway (not shown) by means of a plurality of T-shaped columns (not shown), being the same as for bullet train 42. The bullet train 270 comprises an engine module 273 which also acts as a passenger module, a middle passenger transfer module 276, and an end passenger transfer- module 279. Each of engine module 273, middle passenger transfer module 276, and an end passenger transfer module 279 hang from monorail 45 by means of respective pairs of wheels 81 connected to respective frames (not shown) attached respectively thereto, with respective flexible bellows 87 covering walkways (not shown) therebetween.

[0065] The engine module 273 includes a main floor area 282, an upper storage area 285, and a lower storage area 288. Main floor area 282 includes a main room 291 having a cockpit area 294 and a passenger seating area 297. Bullet train 270 includes two passenger transfer modules 276 and 279 each of which can hold a passenger shuttle module 75, rather than a single passenger transfer module 72, and engine module 273 is also shorter than engine module 57 so that tighter radius turns can be made than on bullet train 42 such as required to service the downtown area of a city. Passenger transfer modules 276 and 279 include respective vehicle storage areas 300 and 303, respective pairs of rails 306 and 309 which are laterally inwardly and outwardly movable by means of respective pluralities of hydraulic cylinders (not shown), respective pairs of vertically slidable passenger doors 310, and respective pairs of arcuate lower doors 312 and 315, shown in the closed position. Passenger shuttle vehicle 75 rolls on and is supported by the respective pairs of rails 306 and 309 when in an inwardly disposed position but allow passenger shuttle vehicle 75 to pass therebetween when in an outwardly disposed position. Passenger shuttle vehicle 75 can roll between passenger transfer modules 276 and 279 for operation in the same manner as passenger transport module 72.

[0066] Commuter bullet train 270 operates on a track system (not shown) similar to track system 213, and is supported by a passenger shuttle vehicle station (not shown), and a maintenance facility (not shown). Such track system is for shorter distance commutes between smaller cities and suburbs and which typically also shuttles passengers to express monorail circuit 222 through main station 216 for transfer of passengers to express bullet train 42. The operation of bullet train 270 is basically the same as for bullet train 42 including non-stop passenger transfer using passenger transport vehicle 78 and ramp 231 and as such will not be further explained. Since the same passenger transport modules 75 are used, passengers need not exit therefrom when transferring between bullet trains 42 and 270.

[0067] Whereas this invention is here illustrated and described with reference to embodiments thereof presently contemplated as the best mode of carrying out such invention in actual practice, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in adapting the invention to different embodiments without departing from the broader inventive concepts disclosed herein and comprehended by the claims that follow. 

I claim:
 1. A high speed monorail train which rides on a monorail supported above the ground by means of a plurality of support columns, and passenger transfer by conventional parallel ground-mounted rails, the monorail train which permits passenger loading and unloading without stopping, comprising: a powered engine module rollably mounted to the monorail; a passenger module rollably mounted to the monorail and operatively connected to be pulled by said engine module; a passenger transfer module rollably mounted to the monorail and operatively connected to be pulled by said engine module, said passenger transfer module which includes a transfer module support device having a receiving position and a holding position; a powered passenger shuttle vehicle which rollably moves on the ground-mounted rails; a passenger transport module for carrying passengers which is carried by said passenger shuttle; and wherein said passenger module can be driven into a position below said passenger transfer module while moving at speed and lifted by a ramp supporting ground-mounted rails such that said transfer module support device receives the passenger transport module and switches to the holding position to support said passenger transport module as said powered passenger shuttle vehicle lowers by rolling from the ramp. 